We all knew the Kansas City Royals winning streak would eventually come to an end. That doesn’t mean the conclusion was any less disappointing in the series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Sunday’s game at Tropicana Field was a neck-and-neck affair, with neither team scoring until the top of the sixth inning. Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. finally put the Royals on top with a home run to left field, his ninth of the season.
Despite that slight edge, it felt like enough for the Royals. Starter Michael Wacha had a stellar showing at that point, retiring 15 consecutive Rays batters. He wasn’t overpowering the competition but rather relying on his vast pitch arsenal, as he has all season. As speculation arose about the possibility of a Wacha no-hitter, shortstop José Caballero dashed those hopes with a double down the third base line. Wacha worked around the leadoff double and left the mound in the sixth with a 1-0 lead.
Like those no-hitter odds that evaporated quickly, so did Kansas City’s margin of error. Wacha returned to the mound in the seventh, arguably seeking one more inning pitched. The veteran’s taxing end to the sixth inning proved too much, as he allowed a leadoff single and then a double. Tampa Bay had runners on second and third with no outs, spelling the end of Wacha’s afternoon.
Righty John Schreiber has been clutch for most of the season but couldn’t keep the Rays off the scoreboard. The possibility looked promising after a force out at home tallied the inning’s first out, but infielder Brandon Lowe laced a triple to right field, clearing the bases and putting the Rays up 3-1 in the seventh inning. It was all the Florida man wrote for Kansas City, and Lowe scoring from third was the final nail.
The game’s frustration did not end there for Royals fans. Kansas City responded with Witt and Vinnie Pasquantino on base with one out in the eighth. Salvador Perez’s single to the left moved the runners, but another baserunning gamble didn’t pay off. Witt stumbled a bit, rounding third, and that was enough to be late at home plate.
Veteran Will Smith kept Kansas City in the game with a scoreless frame, a pleasant surprise. He was the lone reliever today to pitch an entire inning of scoreless ball.
The top of the ninth looked doomed for any comeback, with Freddy Fermin on base and two outs. However, a Garett Hampson single started a two-out rally. Maikel Garcia singled himself and gave Witt the bases loaded with two outs as the potential go-ahead run. It was a nerve-wracking moment, with only two probable conclusions. Royals fans everywhere wished and willed for another Bobby Bomb, a moon shot to put Kansas City back on top.
Alas, the other outcome prevailed. Witt grounded out, and a simple toss to first ended the game, Kansas City’s winning streak, and Tampa’s six-game losing streak.
First, let us note some positives. Wacha continues to look solid after a challenging start to the season. Today was his fourth consecutive quality start, pitching six innings of two-run ball and seven strikeouts. Many teams would relish that production and consistency from their fourth man in the rotation, yet it feels commonplace in Kansas City.
Also, Perez has now reached base safely in 19 straight games, a mark that would’ve been a career-high earlier this season. He already has lengthy runs of reaching base, whether it be drawing walks, putting the ball over the fence, or just some tactical hitting.
Now, let’s address the questionable decision-making: Similar to Saturday’s game, Kansas City made specific self-inflicted mistakes in today’s contest. Sending Witt home rather than loading the bases in the eighth is one. Leaving Wacha in a one-run game proved to be a significant error, especially with Kansas City having a better-rested bullpen than Tampa Bay.
Whether it was situational or not, MJ Melendez was the only Royals player pulled in today’s contest. Nick Loftin made his MLB return after being called up earlier Sunday. Melendez made a sensational catch in left field and reached base safely, but the leash gets shorter and shorter for Melendez.
